Two Phase Ⅲ trials (TAX323 and TAX324) showed induction chemotherapy adding docetaxel to cisplatin plus fluorouracil (TPF) could significant improve survival in head and neck cancer, and a Phase Ⅱ trial from Hong Kong by Hui and colleges with this strategy has also been reported in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, whether three cycles induction could delay the whole time of treatment and reduce the survival benefit are still unknown. A retrospective study of one cycle TPF induction chemotherapy by the investigators group (not yet published) could improve survival in NPC. It encourage us to conduct this clinical trial.

Patients receive docetaxel (60mg/m2 on day 1), cisplatin (20mg/m2 on day 1-4) and fluorouracil (800mg/m2/d, continuous infusion, d1-4) every three weeks for single one cycle before the radiotherapy, then receive radical radiotherapy with IMRT and cisplatin (30mg/m2) every week for six cycles during radiotherapy.

Other Names:

docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil

Drug: One cycle TPF induction chemotherapy for NPC

One cycle TPF induction chemotherapy for NPC

Patients receive docetaxel (60mg/m2 on day 1), cisplatin (20mg/m2 on day 1-4) and fluorouracil (800mg/m2/d, continuous infusion, d1-4) every three weeks for single one cycle before the radiotherapy, then receive radical radiotherapy with IMRT and cisplatin (30mg/m2) every week for six cycles during radiotherapy.

A total dose of 70Gy in 30 fraction to PTV-P, 60Gy in 30 fraction to PTV-1 and 54Gy in 30 fraction to PTV-2.

Other Names:

One cycle

induction chemotherapy

Docetaxel,

cisplatin

and 5-Fu

three cycles induction chemotherapy

Drug: docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil

Patients receive docetaxel (60mg/m2 on day 1), cisplatin (20mg/m2 on day 1-4) and fluorouracil (800mg/m2/d, continuous infusion, d1-4) every three weeks for three cycles before the radiotherapy, then receive radical radiotherapy with IMRT and cisplatin (30mg/m2) every week for six cycles during radiotherapy.

Other Names:

docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil

Drug: Three cycles TPF induction chemotherapy for NPC

Three cycles TPF induction chemotherapy for NPC

Patients receive docetaxel (60mg/m2 on day 1), cisplatin (20mg/m2 on day 1-4) and fluorouracil (800mg/m2/d, continuous infusion, d1-4) every three weeks for three cycles before the radiotherapy, then receive radical radiotherapy with IMRT and cisplatin (30mg/m2) every week for six cycles during radiotherapy.

A total dose of 70Gy in 30 fraction to PTV-P, 60Gy in 30 fraction to PTV-1 and 54Gy in 30 fraction to PTV-2.

Other Names:

Three cycles

induction chemotherapy

Decotaxel,

Cisplatin

and 5-Fu

Detailed Description:

Patients presented with non-keratinizing NPC and stage Ⅲ-Ⅳb T3-4N1M0/TxN2M0 are randomly assigned to receive one cycle induction chemotherapy (docetaxel+cisplatin+fluorouracil) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (investigational arm) or three cycles induction chemotherapy (docetaxel+cisplatin+fluorouracil) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (investigational arm)(control arm). Patients in both arms receive radical Intensity modulated radiation therapy (Trilogy, Varian), and cisplatin (30mg/m2) every weeks for six cycles during radiotherapy. Radiation is delivered to GTV at 70 Gy in 30 fractions, CTV1 at at 60 Gy in 30 fractions and CTV2 at 54 Gy in 30 fractions. Patients in the investigational arm receive docetaxel (60mg/m2 on day 1), cisplatin (20mg/m2 on day 1-4) and fluorouracil (800mg/m2/d,continuous infusion, day 1-4) every three weeks for one cycle or three cycles before the radiotherapy. The primary end point is response rates after radiotherapy, failure-free survival (FFS) and toxic effects and treatment compliance. Secondary end points include overall survival (OS), distant failure-free survival (D-FFS), locoregional failure-free survival (LR-FFS). All efficacy analyses are conducted in the intention-to-treat population; the safety population include only patients who receive their randomly assigned treatment.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02096380